Stockport’s Pyramid: The Unfulfilled Vision of a ‘Valley Of The Kings’

For over three decades, the glass pyramid structure situated beside the M60 motorway in Stockport has been a recognizable landmark. However, previously unrevealed plans indicate that this structure was not intended to stand alone, but rather to form part of Stockport’s own ‘Valley Of The Kings’. Ian Thorp, the architect who designed the building, which later served as an office for the Co-operative Bank, stated his initial intention was to construct five pyramids within a development he named the Kings Valley. Retired architect and the builder of Stockport’s pyramid, Ian Thorp, illustrated his original concept: “Imagine what you seen now as a cake, and then cut it into four slices”. This landmark, which has unexpectedly inspired songs and poetry, is slated to become one of the UK’s largest curry houses, and potentially the world’s first to be housed within a pyramid. Nevertheless, it could have been one of five pyramids if circumstances had unfolded differently. In the late 1980s, Mr. Thorp’s firm, MHA Architects, participated in a competition held by Stockport Council to devise an ambitious design for the plot off the Manchester Ring Road. Mr. Thorp recalled, “They gave us a sketch, showing a cluster of four industrial units, with a low pitched, pyramid roof.” He and his team decided to create “a much more positive statement out of it,” leading to the design of the towering glass and steel structure visible today. These plans included four additional smaller office pyramids positioned near the site’s entrance. Mr. Thorp explained, “The area was quite rundown at the time, and there was nothing really to relate to, and I felt we need to have some sort of strong landmark”. The project secured the support of councillors, and planning permission was obtained for three structures: the main pyramid and two smaller ones at the site entrance. However, the scheme encountered initial difficulties after the main contractor went bankrupt, resulting in the pyramid standing as a metal frame for several years until its completion in 1992. The Co-operative Bank subsequently occupied the site in 1995, utilizing it for its customer service staff. Mr. Thorp mentioned that he effectively resided on the building site for months to help supervise the construction of the geometrically complex building. Regrettably for the architect, the smaller pyramids were deemed not economically viable and never progressed beyond the design stage. Mr. Thorp commented, “The Co-Op did have a second look at building those later on. It would have been nice to see the full scheme”. Mr. Thorp expressed satisfaction that Stockport residents embraced the pyramid, which he felt was “well-received”. He noted, “People look for it when you fly into Manchester Airport”. The building was the location of “strange happenings” in the mid-1990s, involving a struggling willow tree in the atrium that had begun to die. Mr. Thorp recounted, “At some point during this period, HRH Princess Diana was in the press because she had said something about the healing power of the pyramid shape, totally unrelated to Stockport”. He added, “The tree mysteriously came back to life, sprouting new leaves and branches and for some time, there was no credible explanation.” However, it was later discovered that one of the security staff had been watering the tree. The architect remarked, “Mystery solved.” Mr. Thorp, who is now retired and works for his old firm as an occasional consultant, conveyed his pleasure regarding the building’s future. He stated, “It has lacked proper maintenance, and that needs dealing with, so it’s time for a proper re-think, and if it’s going to be an Indian restaurant, then that’s great as a far as I’m concerned.” He also mentioned, “I drive past it quite regularly collecting people from Stockport station and that sort of thing.” Reflecting on its design, he concluded, “Actually, if you look at that pyramid as it as it’s turned out, at the end of the day I suspect it’s more South American than Egyptian really.”